Roberto Orci

Roberto Orci Is No Longer Writing ‘Star Trek 3’

Earlier this month, it was reported that Roberto Orci had been removed as director of Star Trek 3. At the time, it was rumored that he'd been removed from the position because Paramount did not like the screenplay that was turned in by Orci, which was written alongside relative newcomers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. While it has not been confirmed that the script was, indeed, the reason Roberto Orci got the boot, he has now confirmed himself that he is only serving as a producer on the sequel.

Last week, it was confirmed that Fast & Furious director Justin Lin will be taking over Star Trek 3 as director. At the time of the announcement, Roberto Orci was still being called the main writer. At this time, no writer has been confirmed. The script that Paramount has reportedly rejected revolved around the Enterprise, Vulcans and a new alien race competing for a time travel device. The Vulcans attempt to go back and stop the destruction of their home planet, with the time travel element ensuring that Chris Pine and William Shatner would meet on screen as Old and Young Kirk. It is not known if J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay are still with the project. Earlier in the week, Paramount announced that Star Trek 3 will be released July 2016.

‘Star Trek 3’ to Be More Like ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’?

Paramount Pictures is still moving forward with Star Trek 3, despite parting ways with director Roberto Orci earlier this month. No reason was given for the departure, but the filmmaker revealed last week that he is still involved with the sequel as they search for a new director. A new report from Badass Digest reveals that Roberto Orci may have parted ways with Paramount because the studio wanted to make the sequel more like Marvel's current box office hit Guardians of the Galaxy.

The site reports that there are two different stories floating around about Roberto Orci's last days on Star Trek 3, one is that he quit because he refused to address the studio's notes on the script, which was also dumped, and the other is that Paramount actually pulled the plug on the project a month ago, engaging in talks with other filmmakers before officially announcing that Roberto Orci has stepped away. The original report about Roberto Orci's departure also revealed that Edgar Wright has been offered the project, but it isn't known whether or not he will take the job, especially after backing out of Marvel's Ant-Man.

Roberto Orci Comments on Exit as ‘Star Trek 3’ Director

Last week's report, which hasn't been confirmed, claimed that Roberto Orci was removed from the Star Trek 3 director's chair because Paramount wasn't happy with the script that was turned in, which the director co-wrote with J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. That script reportedly revolves around the Vulcans attempting to use time travel to prevent their planet from being destroyed. This time travel device would reportedly allow for Chris Pine's Captain Kirk to share the screen with the older version of Kirk, played by William Shatner in a previously reported cameo.

Of course, we're not quite sure what other "bigger chairs" Roberto Orci may be considering. Back in September, he backed away from another directorial effort, Lionsgate's reboot of Power Rangers. Since they have not announced a replacement director as of yet, it's possible he could come back to that project, since he cited his commitment to Star Trek 3 as the reason for his departure. It could also be another big project entirely that hasn't been announced, but we'll have to wait and see what Roberto Orci commits to next. Are you upset or elated that Roberto Orci isn't directing Star Trek 3? Chime in with your thoughts below.

Did ‘Star Trek 3’ Script Get Director Roberto Orci Fired?

Yesterday, it was widely reported that Paramount had removed Roberto Orci as director on their upcoming sequel Star Trek 3. Though, he will be staying on as a producer. At the time, no reason was given for his dismissal. Today, Badass Digest claim the axe came down because of the script, which is also being dumped.

New writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay co-wrote the screenplay for Star Trek 3 alongside Roberto Orci, which the former director claimed was completed back in August. In October, stars Karl Urban and John Cho both praised the story, claiming it would 'blow fans away'. Apparently the studio thought otherwise, as this latest report states that the screenplay was one of the problem factors, and resulted in Roberto Orci being removed from the director's chair.

‘Star Trek 3’ Loses Roberto Orci as Director

Less than seven months after he was tapped to replace J.J. Abrams at the helm of Star Trek 3, Roberto Orci has backed away from the project. If he would have stayed on board, it would have marked his directorial debut, after co-writing the scripts for Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness and several other big-budget tentpoles such as Mission: Impossible III, Transformers and this summer's The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Deadline also reports that Edgar Wright is being eyed as a possible replacement, but he is just one of several unidentified filmmaker's on Paramount's short list. Roberto Orci is still remaining on board the sequel as a producer.

It isn't known why Roberto Orci is no longer directing, but his commitment to the project forced him to back out of yet another directorial effort in September, Lionsgate's Power Rangers reboot. We reported in August that the director had completed the first draft of the screenplay with new writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, with production scheduled to begin in Seoul, South Korea in the first half of 2015. It isn't clear yet if Roberto Orci's departure will affect the production schedule, or the planned 2016 release date.